Mendham area runners part of coast to coast relay passing through Green Village

The One Run for Boston is a cross country, 3328 mile, 2,000 runner relay from Santa Monica, CA to Boston, MA to support the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing. Begun on March 16 in Santa Monica, it will pass through Mendham and on to Green Village at approximately 9:30 a.m. on April 11, and finish in Boston on April 13, two days before the first anniversary of last year’s tragic events.

Mendham is running stage number 304 of 336 stages – covering 9.3 miles from St. Joseph’s Church on Main Street to the Green Village Fire Department - passing a GPS equipped baton that is being tracked as it crosses the country.

Last year, the One Run for Boston was organized in just weeks after the bombing, raising $91,000 for the One Fund to assist survivors and the families impacted. They moved the baton 24 hours a day through scorching deserts, torrential downpours, and lightning storms. This year, the goal is $1 million and expected draw more than 2,000 runners.

Interested runners or those wishing to support runners can visit www.onerunforboston.org. There, users can track the baton as it crosses the country, make a contribution, register to run a stage or join a group stage. Each runner has their own online fundraising page which is searchable from the home page.

Three friends from England - Danny Bent, Kate Treleaven and James Hay - are the driving force behind the relay which was first organized in June 2013 in response to the Boston Marathon bombings. They’ve been honoured by the participation of so many directly impacted by the bombing, and also veterans and others who have drawn strength through a remarkable grass-roots community of runners.

Danny Bent said: “We wanted to do something to help those impacted by the blasts. We had no idea if the relay would work, let alone take off in the extraordinary way that it did.”

Kate Treleaven said: “One Run For Boston had a profound effect on many of the runners who took part. So, when it was over, they didn’t simply walk away thinking ‘that’s it, job done’. We soon realized that the relay had forged a new community of runners, powered by positivity and united by a desire to support the One Fund Boston in its ongoing mission to help those impacted by the bombings.”

Danny Bent said: “The fabulous Boston Strong Ducks have been introducing us to some of the remarkable people who were injured in the Boston bombings. These guys and girls are an inspiration to us all and we are looking forward to them being part of One Run For Boston this year.”